“As an architect, you design the present, with an awareness of the past for a future which is essentially unknown.”

– Norman Foster

As renowned architect, Norman Foster, states, architecture is an intricate discipline where the past, the present, and the future are all of paramount importance. To be a successful architect, one has to efficiently blend practicality with aesthetics.

It is undeniable that art and architecture are intrinsically related. In fact, it can even be said that architecture is the scientific embodiment of art. It takes the whimsy of art and translates it into practical use by the efficient use of space, time, movement, and time.

Naturally, it is a given that a successful architect is bound to have an artistic bent of mind. Only a creative and proficient architect is able to come up with a building that is both visually pleasing as well as functional.

For centuries, mere buildings and spaces have been completely transformed with the infusion of elements from art movements. Way back in ancient Roman times, structures of all kinds were bestowed with floral motifs and scrolled columns. The Age of the Renaissance was the time when religious themes were intermingled with everyday life to create grandiose pieces of art. This penchant was evident in the architecture of the time as well. The soaring ceilings and detailed walls with frescoed religious themes make the works of the era an inspiration to today’s budding architects as well. In the 17^th century, the Baroque movement with its vibrant colors, intricate detailing, and awe-inspiring grandeur gained popularity with the help of the Church. It later evolved into the more exuberant Rococo movement that continued well into the 19^th century. Art movements continue to play an important role in architectural designs even today. 

Let us look at some of the greatest art movements that have influenced modern design trends.  

Art Nouveau

Rise: 19^th century

Originating in the late 19^th century, the Art Nouveau Movement took the worlds of art and architecture by storm. Departing from the materialistic styles prevalent at the time, art nouveau started infusing elements of nature into their designs. The intricate patterns, flowing lines, and organic forms found in nature inspired the movement. The use of sinuous curves and ornate work like stained glass windows, ironwork, and floral motifs are the key characteristics of the Art Nouveau style of architecture. If you wish to behold the Art Nouveau style in its full glory, do visit Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Batlo in Barcelona which stands out for its façade adorned with vibrant ceramic tiles that remind us of dragon scales. The entrances of Hector Guimard’s Paris Metro featuring eye-catching cast iron structures and Victor Horta’s Hotel Tassel in Brussels are also stellar examples of the Art Nouveau style. 

Cubism

Rise: 20^th century

Pioneered by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Cubism became one of the most influential styles of the 20^th century. It emerged as a revolutionary new approach representing reality. Though highly controversial at the time, the style spread like wildfire throughout Europe in the 1910s. Inspired by Cubism, architects broke down three-dimensional forms. They juxtaposed and superimposed them by making use of geometric shapes. They designed transparent forms that penetrated one another while maintaining a spatial and visual relationship. Raymond Duchamp-Villon and Andre Mare’s La Maison Cubiste is a stellar example of this style.

Dadaism

Rise: 20^th century

The early 20^th century saw the world torn by wars. People were naturally disillusioned by the fallacy of violence and bloodshed. In such a scenario, a group of creative-minded individuals gathered at a nightclub named Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, Switzerland. With Hugo Ball at the helm, they came up with the Dada movement. With talented artists like Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Marcel Duchamp, and Hans Arm, among many others, joining the movement, Dadaism was on the rise in Switzerland, Paris, and New York between 1916 and 1924. These avant-garde artists, who had had enough of war and capitalist culture, adopted an anti-art approach and turned to seemingly irrational and humorous concepts to question authority and reality. This innovative movement inspired architects like Bruno Taut, Kurt Schwitters, Otto Wagner, Erich Mendelson, and Adolf Loos to rethink traditional architecture and create buildings that were completely different than the ones being built at the time. Bruno Taut was the first architect to break the norms of architecture and use concrete with a geometric glass dome when he built The Glass Pavilion in Cologne, Germany. Kurt Schwitters altered his own home by adding avant-gardist installations which completely transformed the concept of domestic space. Dadaism inspired architects to see buildings as more than brick-and-mortar structures. It helped launch many other avante-garde movements, Deconstructivism being one.

Bauhaus Movement

Rise: 20^th century

The Bauhaus Movement began in Germany in the 1920s. This style aimed to merge technology with the traditional arts, at the same time maintaining the focus on functionality. Clean lines, a minimalist approach, and a lack of ornamentation characterize this style. Buildings of this style are functional entities designed for practicality. Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye near Paris is a prime example of the Bauhaus style. Its incorporation of reinforced concrete slabs supported by slender pilotis is deemed to be a blueprint of modern residential architecture by many.

Pop Art 

Rise: 20^th century

Post WWII, people craved for a sense of normalcy. Artists of the era started celebrating everyday objects and transforming them into fine art. This led to the rise of the Pop Art movement in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. Soon, the movement spread to the United States of America. Artists like Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Roy Lichtenstein, among others, joined the movement. Traditional art was gradually replaced by media-inspired, mass produced pop culture. Inspired by this vibrant style, architects started letting go of linear and modest structures. Technology, signalism, and mass consumption became the focus. Light, color, irregular forms, and unconventional scales are the key features of the Pop Art style of architecture. The Happy Rizzi House in Germany is a brilliant example of this style.

Conclusion

Art styles have been inspiring architectural design for centuries. Artistic representation plays a crucial role in shaping architectural style. Art invigorates architects and gives wings to their imagination.

Do comment and let me know your thoughts on art influencing architecture.

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